Semimounted turnover plow having cam-tilted and independently hydraulically steered rear wheel

ABSTRACT

A semimounted turnover plow having a tail wheel supported on the trailing end of the plow frame in such a manner that the wheel is automatically tilted to an inclined position to counteract side forces acting on the plow bottoms in the plowing position of the plows, and returns to a vertical position when the plows are in a transport position. The wheel is tilted about an inclined axis such that it also changes direction relative to the plow frame as it is tilted.

United States Patent inventor Clarence B. Richey Fresno, Calif. 728,021

May 9, 1968 Aug. 10, 1971 Massey-Ferguson lnc. Des Molnes, Iowa Appl.No. Filed Patented Assignee SEMIMOUNTED TURNOVER PLOW HAVING CAM-TILTEDAND INDEPENDENTLY HYDRAULICALLY STEERED REAR WHEEL 6 Claims, 3 DrawingFigs.

US. Cl. 172/212, 172/225, 172/283, 172/285 Int. Cl A0lb 3/44, AOlb 69/00Field ofSearch 172/212,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweet 12/1967 Watts 2/1969Johannsen et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1952 Germany Austria Primary Examiner- Robert E.Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney-Gerhardt,Greenlee & Farris ABSTRACT: A semirnounted turnover plow having a tailwheel supported on the trailing end of the plow frame in such a mannerthat the wheel is automatically tilted to an inclined position tocounteract side forces acting on the plow bottoms in the plowingposition of the plows, and returns to a vertical position when the plowsare in a transport position. The wheel is tilted about an inclined axissuch that it also changes direction relative to the plow frame as it istilted.

PATENTEDAUGI man SHEET 1 BF 2 A TTOR/Vf/S.

SEMIMOUNTED TURNOVER PLOW HAVING CAM- TIL'IED AND INDEPENDENTLYI-IYDRAULICALLY STEERED REAR WHEEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to semimounted implements, andis particularly concerned with turnover plows supported at the front ona draft vehicle and at the rear on a wheel that is steerable and canalso be moved between inclined and vertical positions for plowing andtransport, respectively.

2. Description of the Prior Art In semimounted, turnover plows, thewheel supporting the trailing end of the plow frame must be mechanicallylinked to the hitch of a tractor or other draft vehicle to keep itupright as the plows are rotated from one position to the other.Furthermore, with multiple bottom, wide plows, the wheel mustnecessarily be offset from the longitudinal axis of the tractor duringplowing, and accordingly must shift from one side to the other withrespect to the tractor longitudinal axis when the plows are reversedfrom rightto left-hand and vice versa. It is also necessary that therear wheel be maintained in alignment with the direction of movementduring plowing.

My copending application, Ser. No. 524,191, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,509,entitled, Semi-mounted Earthworking Implement," filed Feb. 1, 1966discloses a semimounted plow in which an elongated frame has itstrailing end supported by a wheel which has a rotary axis maintained ata fixed distance from the longitudinal axis of the frame in allpositions of the plows. The wheel is interconnected to a control shafthaving beveled gears engaged with the spindle of the wheel as well aswith a spindle at the forward end of the frame at a connection with thedraft vehicle such that the wheel has a fixed position relative to thelongitudinal axis of the frame in either of the plowing positions, andis responsive to changes in direction of the draft vehicle to steer thetrailing end of the frame around turns.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON In accordance with the present invention, theimplement includes a frame having a wheel at its trailing end andforward connecting means for connecting the forward end ofthe frame to atractor hitch for side to side pivotal movement. The rear wheel ismounted for swinging or tilting movement about a tilt axis that isinclined upwardly and forwardly from the trailing end of the plow frame.The wheel is steerable about a steering axis normal to the inclined tiltaxis. As the wheel swings from one side to the other about the tiltaxis, the inclination is such that the trailing end of the frame issteered to an offset position relative to the tractor longitudinal axisduring plowing.

The objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an implement embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the trailing end of the plowof FIG. 1; and

HO. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

With reference to the drawings, the implement is designated collectivelyby reference numeral 1 and is connected at its forward end with acrossbar 4 mounted between the trailing ends of the lower draft links 2of a conventional three-point,

hydraulic tractor hitch. The rear end of implement l is supported on awheel assembly 5.

Implement 1 includes an elongated draft frame member 6 on which ismounted a forward connecting assembly 8 including a C-shaped bracket 9having vertically spaced arms 10. Arms 10 of bracket 9 are receivedbetween the ends of a pair of vertically spaced arms 12 of a framemember 14 mounted on crossbar 4. Arms 10 and 12 are pivotally connectedtogether by a pin or spindle 15 carried by arms 12.

The wheel assembly 5 is mounted on a bracket 20 welded or otherwisenonrotatably secured to the end of an upwardly and forwardly inclinedshaft 19 which is rotatably supported in a sleeve 21. Sleeve 21 issupported on a pair of plates 16 and 17 mounted on an extension member18 having one end received within the hollow draft frame member 6 andsecured against rotation by a clamp ring 23 and setscrews 26 passingthrough the clamp ring, draft frame member 6 and extension member orsupport bar 18. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the rotary axis ofshaft 19 is inclined upwardly and forwardly at an angle y relative tothe axis of draft frame member 6.

Bracket 20 is formed with vertically spaced, rearwardly projecting arms22. Rotatably mounted between arms 22 is a spindle 24. The shaft 28 of aground wheel 29 is mounted on an arm 25 having its upper end 27nonrotatably secured to the lower end of spindle 24. Rotation of spindle24 is arms 22 of bracket 20 causes wheel 29 to turn about the axis ofspindle 24.

The plow bottoms P, only the right-hand plow bottoms being visible inFIG. 1, are supported on a plow frame 30 including a diagonal beam 31which is secured intermediate its ends to a frame sleeve 32 rotatablymounted on draft frame member 6. The forward end of beam 31 is securedto one end of a transverse frame member 34 which carries a lockingmember 35. Oppositely projecting arms 38 and 39' carry latching member36 and 37, respectively, which are alternately engageable by lockingmember 35. Locking member 35 is actuated by a hydraulic ram 40 whichactuates the plow frame to rotate about the axis of draft frame member 6between its alternate leftand right-hand plowing positions as well astransport position as is fully disclosed in the copending application,Ser. No. 524,191.

Wheel 29 is caused to turn about the axis of spindle 24 by a hydraulicsteering system including an expansible and retractable power element inthe form ofa hydraulic ram'44. A rear hydraulic ram 45 is connected withram 44 in a closed hydraulic circuit by hydraulic hoses 46 and 47. Ram44 includes a cylinder 48 pivotally connected by a pin 50 to an arm 51projecting from draft frame member 6. Reciprocable within cylinder 48 isa piston 52 pivotally connected at 53 with an arm 54 projecting from thecrossmember 4. As viewed in FIG. 1, counterclockwise pivotal movement ofdraft frame member6 about the axis of spindle 15 causes piston 52 toretract within cylinder 48, and clockwise movement of draft frame member6 about the axis of spindle 15 causes piston 52 to extend from cylinder48.

Ram 45 includes a cylinder 56 pivotally connected by a pin 57 with alever 58 extending laterally from shaft 19. The piston 59 of ram 45 ispivotally connected by a pin 60 with an actuating arm 61 nonrotatablymounted on spindle 24. Consequently, as viewed in H6. 1, extension ofram 45 causes counterclockwise movement of wheel 29 about the axis ofspindle 24, and conversely, retraction of piston 59 within cylinder 56causes clockwise turning movement of wheel 29 about the axis of spindle24. Furthermore, extension of piston 59 from cylinder 56 causeshydraulic fluid to be expelled from cylinder 56 through hose 47 tothereby cause piston 52 of ram 44 to retract within the cylinder 48. Thehydraulic fluid displaced from cylinder 48 flows into cylinder 56through hose 46.

When the tractor turns toward the left, arm 54 will move relative tocylinder 48 in a direction to force piston 52 to extend from cylinder 48to expel fluid from cylinder 48 through hose 47 to thereby cause piston59 to retract within the cylinder 56 and turn wheel 29 in a clockwisedirection about the axis of spindle 24. When the tractor turns to theright on the other hand, arm 54 moves in a direction to force piston 52to retract within cylinder 48 and expel fluid from cylinder 48 throughhose 46 which causes piston 59 to extend from cylinder 56 and turn wheel29 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of spindle 24. Thetrailing end of the plow is thus steered in accordance with changes indirection of the tractor.

As pointed out above, the soil forces on the plow when the right-handplows are in their working position are such that the plow tends toswing toward the left, as shown in FIG. 1, about the axis of spindle 15.Wheel 29 is caused to turn in a counterclockwise direction about theaxis of spindle 24 to steer the trailing end of draft frame member 6 tothe position shown in FIG. 1 in response to rotation of the plow frameto the right-hand plowing position, or the position illustrated inFIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 3, an eccentric 64 is mounted on the plowframe sleeve 32 by radial spacers 65. Rotatably mounted on eccentric 64is a collar 66 having a pair of radial lugs 67 to which a link 69 isconnected by a pivot pin 68. The other end of link 69 is connected by apivot pin 71 with a lever 70 nonrotatably secured to the upper end ofshaft 19.

As viewed in FIG. 3, movement of pivot pin 68 away from draft framemember 6 causes lever 70 to rotate shaft 19 in a clockwise direction toswing wheel 29 toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3. Conversely, movementof pin 68 toward the draft frame axis results in counterclockwiseturning movement of shaft 19 to swing wheel 29 toward the right asviewed in FIG. 3. As is apparent from FIG. 3, rotation of eccentric 64l80 from the position shown causes pin 68 to move upwardly to therebyswing wheel 29 clockwise, or to the left. Rotation of eccentric 64 90from the position shown in FIG. 3 obviously causes pin 68 to moveone-half the distance that it would move were the plow frame rotatedthrough an angle of 180.

If wheel 29 is in a vertical position relative to the ground, and is inline with the longitudinal axis of draft frame member 6 (Le, the wheellies in a vertical plane that passes through the longitudinal axis ofdraft frame member 6), swinging of wheel 29 about the axis of shaft 19to the right side of draft frame member 6 as viewed in FIG. 1, andwithout turning the wheel about the axis of spindle 24, will result inthe wheel 29 tending to steer the trailing end of the implement towardthe right. This is due to the fact that shaft 19 is inclined upwardlyand forwardly at an angle y relative to the draft frame member 6, andthat the axis of spindle 24 is normal, or at a right angle to the axisof shaft 19. Conversely, if wheel 29 is swung to the left side of thedraft frame member 6 about the axis of shaft 19, the wheel 29 will liein a plane relative to the draft frame that causes the trailing end tobe steered to the left.

When the plow frame 30 is rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 1to place the plow bottoms in transport position such that neither therightnor left-hand plow bottoms can engage the ground, eccentric 64 willbe actuated to cause wheel 29 to move directly underneath the draftframe member and lie in a vertical plane relative to the ground. Duringstraight line movement of the tractor the wheel 29 will lie in avertical plane that passes through the longitudinal axis of the draftframe member 6. When the tractor turns, ram 44 responds to actuate ram45 in a direction to cause wheel 29 to rotate about the axis of theinclined spindle 24 to steer the I trailing end of the draft framemember around the turn.

Rotation ofplow frame 30 from the transport position to the right-handplowing position shown in FIG. 1 causes eccentric 64 to actuate shaft 19to swing wheel 29 in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the rear) andmove wheel 29 to the left of draft frame member 6 as shown in FIG. 1, inwhich position, wheel 29 is positioned to steer the trailing end of thedraft frame member to the left of the tractor longitudinal axis becauseof the inclination of shaft 19. Conversely, when the plow frame isrotated to the left-hand plowing position, wheel 29 is swung about theaxis of shaft 19 to the right of draft frame member 6 and lies at asteering angle relative to the longitudinal axis of draft frame member 6to steer the trailing end thereof to a right-hand offset positionrelative to the tractor longitudinal axis.

While a specific form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in the foregoing specification and drawings, it

should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactconstruction shown but that various alternatives in the construction andarrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of theinvention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. A semimounted, turnover plow comprising a draft frame member havingforward connecting means for supporting the forward end of the draftframe member for side-to-side swinging movement on a draft vehicle,support means, a wheel assembly pivotally supported by the support meanson the trailing end of the draft frame member for side-to-side swingingmovement relative to the draft frame member about a tilt axis inclinedupwardly and forwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the draftframe member, means mounted on the draft frame member to pivot the wheelassembly about said tilt axis, said wheel assembly including wheelmounting means, a rotatable wheel pivotally mounted on the wheelmounting means for steerable movement about a axis, axis that isnormally disposed to said tilt axis, steering means mounted on the draftframe member to pivot the rotatable wheel about said steerable axis, anda plurality of oppositely projecting leftand right-hand plow bottomsmounted on said draft frame member for rotation between leftandright-hand plowing positions to respectively place the leftandright-hand plow bottoms only in earth engaging position and a transportposition to place both the leftand right-hand plow bottoms in nonearthengaging positions.

2. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsteering means to pivot the wheel about the steerable axis includescontrol means connected between the forward connecting means and thewheel and is operable to steer the wheel in accordance with changes indirection of the draft vehicle as well as to maintain the wheel inalignment with the direction of movement during straight line movementof the draft vehicle.

3. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidsteering means comprises a front hydraulic ram extensible andretractable in response to changes in the angle between the draftvehicle and the draft frame member, and a rear hydraulic ram connectedwith the wheel responsive to extension and retraction of the fronthydraulic ram to respectively retract and extend to steer the wheel.

4. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 3 further including asleeve mounted on the trailing end of the draft frame member, saidsleeve extending upwardly and forwardly from the trailing end of thedraft frame member, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said wheelassembly being carried by said shaft, said tilt axis being defined bythe common axis ofsaid shaft and sleeve.

5. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 4 further including aplow frame sleeve rotatably mounted on said draft member, a beam mountedbetween its ends on said plow frame sleeve, said plow bottoms beingcarried by said beam, and wherein the means to pivot the wheel assemblyabout said tilt axis includes means interconnecting said plow framesleeve and said shaft to rotate said shaft for carrying said wheelassembly and to position the wheel in accordance with the position ofthe plow frame sleeve.

6. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 4 wherein said meansinterconnecting the plow frame sleeve and said shaft for carrying saidwheel assembly comprises an ec centric mounted on the plow frame sleevefor rotation therewith, a collar concentrically mounted on the eccentricand secured against rotation with the eccentric, a lever mounted on thetilted shaft, and a link connecting said lever with said collar suchthat rotary motion of the eccentric causes rotation of the shaft.

1. A semimounted, turnover plow comprising a draft frame member having forward connecting means for supporting the forward end of the draft frame member for side-to-side swinging movement on a draft vehicle, support means, a wheel assembly pivotally supported by the support means on the trailing end of the draft frame member for side-to-side swinging movement relative to the draft frame member about a tilt axis inclined upwardly and forwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the draft frame member, means mounted on the draft frame member to pivot the wheel assembly about said tilt axis, said wheel assembly including wheel mounting means, a rotatable wheel pivotally mounted on the wheel mounting means for steerable movement about a steerable axis that is normally disposed to said tilt axis, steering means mounted on the draft frame member to pivot the rotatable wheel about said steerable axis, and a plurality of oppositely projecting left- and right-hand plow bottoms mounted on said draft frame member for rotation between left- and righthand plowing positions to respectively place the left- and righthand plow bottoms only in earth engaging position and a transport position to place both the left- and right-hand plow bottoms in nonearth engaging positions.
 2. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steering means to pivot the wheel about the steerable axis includes control means connected between the forward connecting means and the wheel and is operable to steer the wheel in accordance with changes in direction of the draft vehicle as well as to maintain the wheel in alignment with the direction of movement during straight line movement of the draft vehicle.
 3. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 2 wherein said steering means comprises a front hydraulic ram extensible and retractable in response to changes in the angle between the draft vehicle and the draft frame member, and a rear hydraulic ram connected with the wheel responsive to extension and retraction of the front hydraulic ram to respectively retract and extend to steer the wheel.
 4. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 3 further including a sleeve mounted on the trailing end of the draft frame member, said sleeve extending upwardly and forwardly from the trailing end of the draft frame member, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleevE, said wheel assembly being carried by said shaft, said tilt axis being defined by the common axis of said shaft and sleeve.
 5. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 4 further including a plow frame sleeve rotatably mounted on said draft member, a beam mounted between its ends on said plow frame sleeve, said plow bottoms being carried by said beam, and wherein the means to pivot the wheel assembly about said tilt axis includes means interconnecting said plow frame sleeve and said shaft to rotate said shaft for carrying said wheel assembly and to position the wheel in accordance with the position of the plow frame sleeve.
 6. A semimounted turnover plow as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means interconnecting the plow frame sleeve and said shaft for carrying said wheel assembly comprises an eccentric mounted on the plow frame sleeve for rotation therewith, a collar concentrically mounted on the eccentric and secured against rotation with the eccentric, a lever mounted on the tilted shaft, and a link connecting said lever with said collar such that rotary motion of the eccentric causes rotation of the shaft. 